Nurses, firefighters and teachers protest Schwarzenegger at LA fund-raiser

Associated Press
March 17, 2005

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A throng of demonstrators outraged over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed changes to state pensions and teacher salaries protested Wednesday outside a hotel where the governor held a lavish fund-raiser to support his agenda.

Nurses, firefighters and teachers spilled into the street outside the Century City hotel, calling for the governor's ouster and waving placards that read, "California not for sale" and "Don't privatize retirement security."

The protest was the latest in a series of actions by a loosely affiliated group of union members, Democrats and others designed to frustrate Schwarzenegger's plans.

The governor has called for series of changes to everything from public employee pensions to how legislative districts are drawn. Opponents have challenged the governor's policies in court, run TV ads against him and staged street demonstrations.

The Republican governor has been organizing a statewide petition drive to get his proposals on a special election expected this fall, raising an estimated $50 million he said he needs for the campaign.

"The governor anticipated the special interests would start crying foul when he was trying to bring about reform," Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson said. "Right now, the unions are fighting for their own interests. The governor is fighting for the people's interest."

On Wednesday, police temporarily shut the street outside the hotel as the crowd swelled, snarling afternoon rush hour traffic. Police late Wednesday said there were about 1,500 protesters at the event and no arrests were made.

Paula Flynn, 45, who has taught elementary school for two decades in nearby Santa Monica, said she feared for her pension. Among his proposals, the governor wants to reorganize the pension system for state employees into a 401(k)-style plan.

She accused the governor of focusing his attention on raising money for pet causes while turning his back on education.

"A ticket to this affair is more than I make in a year," Flynn said, referring to the donation needed to be named a "state finance chair" at the governor's fund-raiser - $89,200, which includes perks such as photographs with Schwarzenegger and commemorative gifts.

The Education Coalition - an association of unions, school administrators and others - has opposed the governor's proposal for merit pay for teachers and accused him of shortchanging students.

The governor also has a had a long-running political feud with the 60,000-member California Nurses Association over the nation's only mandatory staffing levels for hospitals. The nurses, who have attacked the governor in media ads, recently prevailed in court when a judge ruled Schwarzenegger's administration improperly suspended a law requiring more nurses in hospitals.